Cowboys finally fold as resurgent Tigers play all their cards
May 24, 2013 - 10:11PM
Glenn Jackson
Rugby League Writer

When you have gone through the worst losing streak in your club's history, you will take a win however they come, even if it's wet, ugly, and somewhat controversial. A win's a win and the Tigers have their first since round three.

They left it until late. Winger David Nofoaluma scored in the corner with two minutes remaining – predictably, given the events of the previous 78 minutes – following some nervous moments as the video officials conferred. Fittingly, five-eighth Benji Marshall played a role in their final fling, while the also under-fire forward Adam Blair showed signs of improvement.

Overall, the Tigers did too.

Being a confidence team, the Tigers needed things to go their way early, and for much of the opening stages, they did. The Cowboys certainly enjoyed some fortune in the early minutes, when Marshall's clearing kick struck forward Scott Bolton, who was first to the ball and cleverly soccered through for second-rower Tariq Sims, who scored.

But then luck turned against the Cowboys, with a little help from the video officials.

Their confidence player, Marshall, was the recipient of the first piece of good fortune, when he was ruled to have grounded the ball cleanly, even though the on-field official, in sending the decision up to video referees Chris Ward and Luke Patten, had felt it was more likely not to be a try than otherwise. Yet the video officials, who needed conclusive proof to overrule the on-field referee, ruled that the five-eighth had grounded the ball.

Five minutes later, the reverse happened. Cowboys winger Ashley Graham looked to have done a remarkable job to score in the corner, despite the late efforts of his wing opposite Marika Koroibete.

The on-field official again sent the decision upstairs, but on this occasion felt that Graham had done enough, even though he couldn't be certain. The video officials, however, found enough evidence to rule that Graham touched down short – athough they softened the blow by penalising Koroibete for a shoulder charge. The decision to give the on-field officials more clout to make the decision – in scrapping the contentious benefit of the doubt rule – appeared to have been shelved for the night.

The Cowboys were still well on top by this stage, and it did not take long before they were able to take advantage of their dominance; there was no doubt about centre Kane Linnett's put down from Matt Bowen's grubber.

That gave the Cowboys the advantage on the scoreboard, and the Tigers could have folded at this point. In fact, they appeared to be doing so at times during the first half, as they were placed under enormous pressure, having struggled for confidence and cohesion and playing against an outfit much more settled.

But as the rain pelted Leichhardt, and the fans who did brave the conditions were cursing anybody they could, the Tigers lifted. They did so via their halfback Curtis Sironen, who found some space up the guts – as his father Paul would have, in a vastly different way – before centre Tim Simona and Koroibete did the rest. By the break, the Leichhardt faithful were standing to applaud their side; a half-time lead was an important step for them.

Certainly, they looked more composed. The horrid conditions might have been a help, forcing them to play more direct, while shelving the high-risk play which has not been working.

Six minutes after the break, they extended their lead. Captain Robbie Farah's grubber found prop Jack Buchanan.

Still, the slippery ball was a menace, and after 49 minutes, Thurston's kick was lost by Nofoaluma, who could only watch despairingly as Sims scored his second try.

Then on the hour-mark, Bowen's ball ricocheted off Joel Reddy before finding winger Antonio Winterstein, who scored.

The Tigers were only hanging in there. The video officials again ruled in their favour after 65 minutes, when Graham came down with Koroibete, and it seemed enough of the ball, after Thurston's kick. Then Linnett clearly failed to ground the ball two minutes later; the video referees had no option but to disallow that one.

The Leichhardt crowd lifted. Then the Tigers did. Nofoaluma finished it off, and the Leichhardt crowd lifted the roof off.

very good video reffing i think, although im not sure about the koro try saver where it was held up. My view was a grainy stream so i couldnt see anything and the highlights didnt have a good angle. How was it? Felt like that was a try but again, couldnt see.

Besides that, strong video reffing poor on field reffing.

''Everybody talks about their four brothers, we have 17 here so we don't really care about them."

pHyR3 wrote:very good video reffing i think, although im not sure about the koro try saver where it was held up. My view was a grainy stream so i couldnt see anything and the highlights didnt have a good angle. How was it? Felt like that was a try but again, couldnt see.

Besides that, strong video reffing poor on field reffing.

I would agree with that entirely. I thought (for once) the video referees were good; as for the others - well they left a lot to be desired.